B1 A and SH Antigen in Chronic Hepatitis

Abstract

B1 A, a constituent of the third component of complement (C'3), serum hepatitis (SH) antigen, and the immunoglobulins were measured in sera of hepatitis patients. More than half of 31 patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis and more than half of 33 patients with chronic persisting hepatitis had decreased levels of B1A. The mean values of B1A also were significantly decreased in these patient groups. In contrast, B1A was increased in 10 sera and decreased in six sera of 30 patients with acute hepatitis, the mean value being almost normal. A slightly elevated mean value and only a few abnormal individual B1A levels were found in sera of 43 patients with liver diseases of other than probable viral origin. SH antigen was present in the sera of 41 and 36% respectively of patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis. Patients with SH antigen more often had decreased levels of B1A than patients without this antigen. Antinuclear antibodies were found in 30% of patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis. They were not associated with SH antigen except in 1 patient. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM were increased in more than half of the patients with chronic hepatitis. There was no relation between B1A and immunoglobulins.